Microsoft Outlook is one of the most widely used email client across the globe and it provides a very good facility to work offline by .ost file. Sometimes users face situation where OST file becomes inaccessible. To avoid this situation, we can migrate OST files to Outlook. But the problem occur once the user think to import Outlook OST file into Outlook 2016 they get fail, MS Outlook offers an in-built utility to move only PST files, not the Outlook OST file. If you are need to import Outlook OST file into Outlook 2016 then firstly you need to move OST file in PST format.

After moving of OST  to PST, you will be able to export PST file into Outlook. There is no any direct manual method to import Outlook OST file into Outlook. Thus, in the next section of this blog, we will explain how to convert OST to PST in Outlook 2019/2016/2013.

Guide to Move OST File to Outlook Using Manual Process:

Step 1. Choose the “Export” Option of Microsoft Outlook

1. Open Microsoft Outlook Email Program
2. Open or run Microsoft Outlook
3. Go to "File" menu and click on "Export to a file" Option, then hit the "Next" tab
4. Choose the Outlook data file (pst) format and hit on the "Next" tab
5. Opt for folder which you want to export and mark on "Include subfolders".
6. Select the path for saving the exported data and hit the "Finish" tab

Note: The above-explained process will only work if your original Outlook profile is connected to the MS Exchange Server.

Step 2. Perform Archive Option of MS Outlook

1. In Microsoft Outlook, press the "File" tab.
2. Click Cleanup Tools.
3. Click Archive.
4. You will see a window in front of you, select the file or folder to archive it
5. Then, browse to the destination path where you want to save the archived PST

Note: Using this procedure you cannot archive your contacts.

Step 3. Move OST File to PST

1. Open MS Outlook and create a new PST file
2. After that use the drag and drop process to move entire mailbox folders to newly created PST.

Note: Using drag and drop process, you cannot move sent items, inbox, calendars, contacts, etc. into PST. Hence, it would not be wrong in saving that there exist some drawbacks while using manual methods. Moreover, market is dominated with various third-party solutions which provides direct open to import Outlook OST file into Outlook 2016.

The Final Verdict

Where manual process does not offer direct option for converting of OST data, reliable third-party solutions come as the ray of hope. Being developed by expert developer’s team and advanced algorithm works in backend; so these are not wrong. One such a trustworthy OST Converter tool which carries out the process to import Outlook OST file into Outlook 2016 without altering originality of data file. It's a tough task for every user to implement manual process to access the content of offline data file therefore, they can use this reliable Import/Export tool for OST file.